Jacqui Dankworth is one of those people who was born to be a star
performer, whether as an actress or singer in any genre, she can always
deliver the goods.

Whilst this level of versatility is amazing and the envy of all us
lesser mortals, it can sometimes have a strange effect on the career
of such a person. The public’s attention becomes more focussed on
less talented people who develop just one aspect or maybe the only
aspect of their talent.

This is Jacqui’s debut album for CANDID and she says of it, "The
world has always gone through dark and turbulent periods of time.
The nature of humankind has seen to that. This album was recorded
over five sessions between the winter of 2002 and spring 2003. I can
say with assurance it has also been a turbulent period in my life
but it has been a time of massive personal growth. You could say a
time of challenge. All the songs I have chosen reflect the joys of
loving, losing, living and…being human. As sure as day follows night,
light follows darkness. This is an intensely personal album recorded
with much love and with the intention of pouring a little light and
courage into a world where there is often fear and darkness.

All of the previous paragraph can be heard in the album, it seems
to show Jacqui with her heart on her sleeve. As an older person this
all sounds a bit like a welcome to the real world, which is and always
has been a collection of all these things.
All the tracks on this album are interesting, but the three tracks
that are in my view outstanding, all come together. Tracks 7,8&9
seem to have everybody at their best and they are three great songs.
On some tracks I find the guitar a bit intrusive, but not on these
tracks Mike Outram is at his most sympathetic and Alec Dankworth is
also heard in the way he should be.

This is an excellent album, but going back to my earlier remarks,
I would like to hear Jacqui do a pure jazz album, her voice is different
from her mother’s sufficiently for that not to be a problem and I
am sure it would be a great success.